Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1887-03-30

one. Eugenle was IN her state-room,
frantically trying to make one satchel
do the work of two,- when a rap at her
door was followed by Nell's voice.
please do favor for me,n he said,
in his emphatic way. "Wear this ring
on the boat for me. It'svery valuable;
a friend sent by me for it, but don t
know"-with smiling eyes-''that /
shall let him have it now. You wear
1t, and III come to your hotel tonight
for it-if l must take it; but / hope
you know what. 'Genie!''
He was gone, and Eugene stood with
happy bushes on her fair face, clasping
tight the small package containing the
ring. Her ring, 1t might be, if she said
so, and was there any doubt what she
would say? She pressed it to her lips.
Hurry, 'Genie!" cried querulous
voice, hurry, chlldl"
She started, and tore open the pac k
age with eager haste, bringing forth on
the end OF her finger a ring. Her face
fell. What wretched little thingl a
cameo of cheapest variety, and consider
ably too large for her slender fingers.
Worse than ordinaryl'' said Euge-
ME. "What does he mean by asking
me TO wear such paltry affairl Well,
l don't care, ~ she decided, at last, "but
/ he needn't have said il was very yalua-
be-" and it is greatly to be feared that
! Eugenle's door shut forcibly after her.
The cuckoo on the clock i'll the hotel
parlor had Just screeched for O'Clock
when Neil ran up the stairs and tapped
on the door of the parlor allotted to -.
d. Grant, wife and daughter, Buffalo,"
Very handsome and eager he looked,
and it is small wonder that Eugene
biushed brightly as he took her hands
"What swell you arei" he said, ad.
miring the white billows of lace that
fell about her, leaving bare the soft
neck and rounded arms. How much
time can you give me?n
Not much; it is time to go. But l
VIII see you tomorrow won't l. Here
is your ring: I've been afraid should
lose it, it is so large for me-"
She holds it out to him. He takes l.,
and with it both her hands.
Then you'll keep the other, 'GeDie?"
in anxious inquiry.
"The otherl What other?" said Eu-
genie.
why, the diamond, of course, what
do You suppose?"
1.-The diamondl" In amazement.
There was no diamondp'
He stared moment and then laughed.
''Ohi come nowl That's joke, and
I'll laugh at it by.and-by. but just now
I'm more interested IN something else
in you."
But there was no diamond, what do
you mean by saying SOP" in wonder
ment,
Neil's face flushed. and his voice was
more than unusually positive-almost
Extensively so, Eugene thought, as he
said:
"You know perfectly well what l
mean and, forgive me, but it~1s IN
rather poor taste to continue that un-
welcome joke"
81 don't know what you are talking
about" she replied, with dignity. 81
wore your valuable ring; if there was
any diamond about il l tailed to see it.
| shall have to wish you good-evening,
MIR. Blake"
''Of course did not ask you to wear
thIs," in contemptuouS designation Of
the cameo. at was simply in the
package with the other, the diamond
that you do not seem able to remem-
ber."
"How dare youl' cried angry Euge-
HE. "You are telling a talsehood.
Papa shall" ''Papal" in elevated.
hysterc voice as the door opened; ''he
says l have stolen a ringr' and subsided
INTO a crushed, fearful heap on the
sofa.
Papa Grant was a portly, pompous
gentleman, with a great deal of gold
watch chain across a broad expanse of
white vest.
Very deliberate and particular, he
required that the matter should be fully
explained twice by his weeping daugh-
ter, before expressing an opinion.
You are an impudent young ras-
CAL" said Papa Grant. "Wto gave
you leave to address my daughter at
allP''
''All can say, SIR" persisted Neil,
doggedly. rs that l gave to Miss
Grant''-(not Genie any more. Alas!)
a package containing diamond ring.
which ring she now declines to pro-
duce."
At this there was a fresh explosion OF
sObs from behind the handkerchief,
and two high heels dug wildly into the
carpet. Papa Grant swelled with Of
Tended dignity, and for moment it
looked as if Neil's chance for a safe
exit were not flattering, but there was
a new arrival upon the scene.
Fair and slight and delicate, but with
nd
that reduced the white vest. calmed
Eugenle's s0bS, and reassured Nell, all
at once-the heretofore invisible NAM
ma.
You are sure the ring was in the
package, Mr.. Blake?" after third ex-
planatisn."
ut was" said Neil, firmly.
'It was not" said Eugene. as firm
ly.
Then they gIared at each other.
"Oh. this will never do" said Mrs.
Grant, in calm dismay. "Mr. Blake,
know your father, he is gentleman.
| think his son is one; it is Impossible
that yeu should try to deceive u.s.
Neil bowed gratefully. And 1t IS
equally impossible that my daughter
uO SOs 4bNAO LAh0s ~ eN->
mistake
"There is not, "declaredithe belliger-
ents in breath.
There must lie some mistake, ?" re-
paated the mother. calmly. "Eugenie
may have overlooked the ring i'll her
hurry. Ot course you are sure you did
not, my dear. But it may be-" She
pondered a moment while Neil and
Eugene watched her breathlessly.
"If we could" she SAID, at last, II
we could go ON the boat, before our
state-room had been swept-do you
think it possible, JOSeph?"
He of the gold watch chain thus ap'
pealed to, shifted contemptuously.
"AbsurdI Out of the question: The
whole affair IS ridiculous, and comes
from allowing your daughter to make
indiscriminate acquaintances, against
which l particularly warned you. L
set the whole matter aside"